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Clarifications on HHS Energy Newsletter  (12 comments)

Posted by: Michael Leavitt
Thursday, September 20th, 2007

Several of you have brought to my attention concerns about a recent newsletter that went out to HHS employees. You are right; we made a mistake. I have asked my Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Joe Ellis, whose office issues the Energy Newsletter, to address this issue in a statement below.

Statement from Assistant Secretary Ellis:

HHS is committed to being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and natural resources. One of the ways we have been successful in contributing to energy conservation is by periodically writing to our employees about energy efficiency, conservation, and steps they can take to contribute to these efforts.

Our most recent energy newsletter for employees focused on energy efficient vehicles, and the newsletter encouraged employees to consider the benefits of fuel efficient vehicles when shopping for a car. Unfortunately, the newsletter highlighted vehicles not made by American manufacturers, thereby giving the impression that HHS was encouraging employees to buy foreign makes of cars.

Nothing could be further from our intent. Clearly, the newsletter strayed from its purpose of sharing information about energy conservation that is relevant to working for our Department. In sending such a newsletter, we implied that we endorsed the purchase of cars not made by American companies.

I deeply regret that our newsletter offended anyone, especially those Americans working in the automobile industry and the millions of people who make American automobile manufacturers successful.

Joe Ellis
Assistant Secretary for
Administration and Management, HHS